forest school leader traineeship

next round starting may 2026

we are delighted to be able to offer funded traineeships for people who want to become qualified forest school practitioners and undertake a transformative personal and professional journey that involves the deepening of their connection and nature based skills within a holistic learning environment, understanding how development takes place and how to facilitate this experience for others through coordinating and delivering forest school programmes. 


this traineeship starts in may 2026 and finishes in 2027

applications now open! closing date september 22nd 2025. apply below.


if you are not eligible for the traineeship, you could consider signing up for a place on our forest school leader training 

about the traineeship

we recognise that the ‘forest school’ industry does not reflect or represent the population of the uk, and more specifically of east london. we also recognise that there are structural, institutional and economic barriers to reaching and gaining the education and training needed to work in this sector. we seek to renew the systems in place that prevent opportunities like this being open to all, by prioritising diversity and providing economic support in an industry where unpaid time, volunteering and self-funded education is the norm.

this opportunity is open to anyone who:

  • needs a stepping-stone in their career

  • might otherwise not be able to access the training

  • meets the eligibility criteria

see what our 2024-25 cohort got up to on their initial training week here

read anand’s traineeship success story below. read the stories of what led two of our previous trainees - karen & wren ~ to embark on their forest school journey

anand is a trainee from our last cohort who undertook our traineeship and became a part of the kin team during the early stages of his training.

"hello there, i’m anand. i’m a forest school practitioner who is interested in patiently cultivating transformative community spaces that enliven us to the wild world around us. i also make playful art experiments that grapple with what entangles me in this city life and the natural world where i find peace. inpeace. in this blog i’d like to share a little bit about the kin level 3 forest school leader traineeship and how it has enchanted, enriched, and transformed me as a person as well as what i offer to the world..."

read more of anand's deeply inspiring words via the button below.

meet our trainee ~ anand

details

each trainee will receive a training bundle equivalent in value of to £2000. this traineeship will comprise of the following:

  • forest school leader (level 3) training: course page

  • 16 hrs. first aid paediatric outdoor qualification: training page here

  • natural musicians & story telling - chris holland here

  • work experience on one of our camps

  • mentorship from kin

places offered on an application basis ~ sign up to our mailing list here to be the first to know when applications open

this training programme has been generously sponsored by a friend of kin 

“the traineeship experience was one of awe and wonder. we learned so many useful practical outdoor skills such as lighting fires and cooking over them, whittling, putting up shelters, knots and other bushcraft. each day was timeless and extremely soul nourishing. the course facilitators were so lovely and accommodating. there was a very cheerfully playful energy amongst the group during the training. i also was given the chance to carry out work experience onsite at kin and was then offered some paid work. i’m soon to be a qualified forest school leader and intend to carry this space with me wherever i go. i am eternally grateful to be on this path and for all the support i have been granted.” celeste, previous trainee

why kin is offering training

we are are experiencing a high demand for the groups we currently offer so we decided to find a way for the work we currently do at k.i.n to reach beyond our forest walls so that more people, children and adults alike, are able to benefit from it. we realised that this would be through enabling other adults, whether through schools or independently, to offer their own provisions. we have been lucky enough to meet facilitators and organisations who are aligned with kin to offer these trainings in partnership with and make this vision possible.